How to Glue Down Laminate Flooring Edge Strips

By Ciele Edwards Updated September 26, 2017

Your laminate flooring installation isn't over once the new flooring is in place. Laminate, like hardwood flooring, must have room to expand and contract. Because of this, professional flooring installers leave a slight gap between the edge of the flooring and the wall. This gap is necessary to prevent buckling. Unfortunately, its also unsightly, and your baseboards do little to hide it. Installing edge strips, however, can solve the problem. Edge strips, often called quarter round, are a thin, light base molding that hides the gap between your laminate floor and the wall.

Step 1

Measure the gap between your laminate flooring and the wall. Purchase edge strips that are twice the width of the gap. This ensures that your edging will completely hide the gap.

Step 2

Remove any spacers between your laminate floor and the wall.

Step 3

Lay your edge strip down flush with both the floor and the wall, starting at a corner. Nail each strip directly to the baseboard or drywall with 2-inch nails until you reach the corner.

Step 4

Cut the end of the corner piece of edging at a 45-degree angle, using the miter saw. Rest the angled piece in the corner. Nail the strip into place approximately 1 inch from the angled cut.

Step 5

Cut the end of the subsequent strip of edging at a 45-degree angle in the opposite direction.

Step 6

Trace the inside edge of the piece of trim already attached to the wall with wood glue.

Step 7

Press the edge of the newly cut piece of trim firmly into place alongside the previous strip's glued edge. Hold the glued piece of trim in place for 30 seconds to 1 minute. This gives the wood glue time to set.

Step 8

Wipe away any glue that squeezes out of the gap with a damp cloth. Nail and glue the remainder of the trim around the room in the same manner.

Things You Will Need

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Measuring tape

2-inch nails

Hammer

Miter saw

Damp cloth

Tips

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You can buy edge strips in a variety of colors to match your laminate floors, or you can save money by purchasing plain edge strips and staining them yourself.

The number of nails and the amount of trim you need will depend on the size of the room.

Warning

Don't nail or glue your edging to the floor. This prevents the floor from expanding and contracting like it should and can cause buckling.

Resources

About the Author

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Ciele Edwards holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and has been a consumer advocate and credit specialist for more than 10 years. She currently works in the real-estate industry as a consumer credit and debt specialist. Edwards has experience working with collections, liens, judgments, bankruptcies, loans and credit law.